[Leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

The aim of this study was to assess the effect and safety of leflunomide (LEF) in refractory RA and to review the literature on this subject. A one year prospective study was conducted on a group of patients (n:15). Mean duration disease was 6.

Ca2+-independent activation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase is required for store-mediated Ca2+ entry in human platelets.

Store-mediated Ca(2+) entry (SMCE), which is rapidly activated by depletion of the intracellular Ca(2+) stores, is a major mechanism for Ca(2+) influx. Several studies have involved tyrosine kinases in the activation of SMCE, such as pp60(src), although at present those involved in the early activation steps are unknown. Here we report the involvement of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) in the early stages of SMCE in human platelets.

[Cardiac involvement in spondylarthropathies].

Cardiac involvement is a real manifestation of spondylarthropathies and include specially aortic regurgitation and conduction troubles. We present a prospective open study of fifty patients with spondylarthropathy (responded to Amor criteria) in order to evaluate the frequency of cardiac involvement, to see its type and if we can evaluate a group of patients able to this complication. We have included forty-four men and six women with a mean age of 38 years.

Perinatal complications in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their unaffected siblings.

Objectives: Genetic and nonshared environmental factors (experienced by 1 family member to the exclusion of the others) have been strongly implicated in the causes of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pregnancy, labour/delivery and neonatal complications (PLDNC) have often been associated with ADHD; however, no investigations aimed at delineating the shared or nonshared nature of these factors have been reported. We aimed to identify those elements of the PLDNC that are more likely to be of a nonshared nature.

[Vertical fracture of the odontoid process. A case report].

Odontoid process fractures are commonly classified as types I through III according to the Anderson & D'Alonzo scheme. A fourth type of fracture not included in this classification has been described as "vertical odontoid fracture". These fractures are located in the vertical plan of the dens.

[TNF alfa modulators in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Current slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs available at now for rheumatoid arthritis fail in majority of cases and have an inconstant chondro-protective effect. Improvements in our knowledge of its pathogenesis and advances in molecular biology have made possible to develop selective immunotherapy approaches. Tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF alfa) is an important inflammatory mediator that play a crucial role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Immunological characterization of novel secreted antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Proteins secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are targets of host immune responses and as such are investigated for vaccine and immunodiagnostics development. Computer-driven searches of the M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome had previously identified 45 novel secreted proteins.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val108/158 Met polymorphism does not modulate executive function in children with ADHD.

Background: An association has been observed between the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, the predominant means of catecholamine catabolism within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and neuropsychological task performance in healthy and schizophrenic adults. Since several of the cognitive functions typically deficient in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are mediated by prefrontal dopamine (DA) mechanisms, we investigated the relationship between a functional polymorphism of the COMT gene and neuropsychological task performance in these children.

Methods: The Val108/158 Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was genotyped in 118 children with ADHD (DSM-IV).

Influence of the halogen ligand on the near-UV-visible spectrum of [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)2(alpha-diimine)] (X = Cl, I; alpha-diimine = Me-DAB, iPr-DAB; DAB = 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene): an ab initio and TD-DFT analysis.

The near-UV-vis electronic spectroscopy of [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)] (X = Cl or I; iPr-DAB = N,N'-di-isopropyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene) is investigated through CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT calculations on the model complexes [Ru(X)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] (X = Cl or I). Convergence of the calculated transition energies for the low-lying metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT), X-to-ligand charge-transfer (XLCT, X halide ligand), or sigma-bond-to-ligand charge-transfer (SBLCT) to experimental values is analyzed for both methods. On the basis of these accurate calculations, it is shown that whereas the lowest singlet state can be assigned to a nearly pure XLCT state in [Ru(I)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)], its character is mainly MLCT in [Ru(Cl)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)].

Expression profiling in Medicago truncatula identifies more than 750 genes differentially expressed during nodulation, including many potential regulators of the symbiotic program.

In this study, we describe a large-scale expression-profiling approach to identify genes differentially regulated during the symbiotic interaction between the model legume Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Macro- and microarrays containing about 6,000 probes were generated on the basis of three cDNA libraries dedicated to the study of root symbiotic interactions. The experiments performed on wild-type and symbiotic mutant material led us to identify a set of 756 genes either up- or down-regulated at different stages of the nodulation process.

Primary midbrain germinoma.

Intracranial germinomas arising primarily in the midbrain are extremely rare and only one case has been reported in the literature. A 15-year-old boy presented with headache, diplopia, unsteadiness and personality changes. Brain MRI showed a heterogeneous lesion in the midbrain.

[Morphological approach to facial esthetics: a Tunisian study].

Over the course of time, an esthetic standard, molded by a certain number of rules, recognized virtually universally, has gained widespread recognition. Orthodontics, like the rest of the world, accepts this rule. So, we all try in our treatment objectives to conform to a set of standardized "norms" of facial and cephalometric esthetics.

Mitochondrial DNA heterogeneity in Tunisian Berbers.

Berbers live in groups scattered across North Africa whose origins and genetic relationships with their neighbours are not well established. The first hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was sequenced in a total of 155 individuals from three Tunisian Berber groups and compared to other North Africans. The mtDNA lineages found belong to a common set of mtDNA haplogroups already described in North Africa.

[Craniopharyngioma of the adults. Three cases].

Craniopharyngioma, an intra- and suprasellar tumor generally observed in pediatric patients, can also occur in adults. We report three cases of histologically confirmed craniopharyngioma in three men aged 34 to 53 Years. Clinical manifestations were headache with visual and gonadic disorders associating impotence, infertiligy, and gynecomastia.

[Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism reveals a genetic differentiation between ethnic groups in the population of Jerba].

Jerba is an island situated in the South-East of Tunisia were some ethnic groups (Arabs, Berbers, Blacks, Jewishs and others) cohabit for centuries. The religion and cultural differences have represented an obstacle to a mixture between these groups. In order to evaluate the genetic differentiation between the muslim groups (Arabs, Berbers and Blacks), we have analysed the polymorphism of a mitochondrial DNA coding region.

[Gastric stump MALT lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature].

Gastric stump lymphoma is uncommon. We report a case of MALT lymphoma of the gastric stump occurring in a 65 year-old male. This patient had undergone subtotal gastrectomy for a gastric peptic ulcer at age 51.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for mediastinal extramedullary plasmocytoma.

Extramedullary plasmocytoma (EMP) is a rare cell neoplasm most frequently localised in the upper respiratory tract. We report the case of a 43 year-old-man, with an unusual presentation of EMP developing in the mediastinum, two years after a diagnosis of solitary plasmocytoma of the bone which was successfully treated by local irradiation. In this aggressive presentation, we decided to perform an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

[Possible role of vitamin A and E deficiency in human idiopathic lithiasis].

The purpose of our study is to compare the status of vitamin A and E enters a group of male patients aged 30-40 years and having idiopathic lithiasis in the other whose origin of the lithiasis is awarded to a hypercalciuria and/or hypercalciuria and/or hyperoxaluria. Reference values were established from a normal subjects aged 30-40 years and having no history of nephrolithiasis. Our results showed that the mean levels of vitamin A was significantly lower in idiopathic renal stone-formers than metabolic stone-formers (p < 0.

[Thyroid pseudo-nodules: 3 case reports].

The thyroïd pseudo-nodules constitute cervical lesions that can simulating neoplastic thyroid lesions either by their size or by their "cold" character in scintigraphy. We describe 3 cases of thyroïd pseudo-nodules collected in 10 years: a thyroid hydatid cyst, a schwannoma of the recurrent nerve and a thyroglossal duct cyst. Throw these observations, the authors discuss the problems of differential diagnosis set out with these pseudo-nodules.

[Efficacy of cyclines in agammaglobulinemia arthritis].

Five to 40% of patients with agammaglobulineamia develop joint manifestation consisting of septic arthritis or aseptic arthritis of unclear pathogenesis. Intravenous gamma-globulin therapy seems effective on the better condition but is burden-some and expensive. We report the case of a 31-year old woman, having a common variable immunodeficiency that has a chronic oligoarthritis seronegative and not warping.

Photosensitization of Colpoda inflata cysts by meso-substituted cationic porphyrins.

Colpoda inflata cysts accumulate significantly large amounts of meso-substituted cationic porphyrins, including meso-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (TMP-C1) and its mono-N-methyldecyl (TMP-C10) and -tetradecyl (TMP-C14) analogues upon incubation for 1 h with 1-48 microM porphyrin concentrations. All three porphyrins at concentrations greater than 10 microM exhibited a significant toxicity toward the cysts, in particular lowering the degree of excystment. Upon visible light irradiation of the porphyrin-loaded cysts, extensive photodamage was observed even in the presence of 1 microM porphyrin, as shown by light microscopy observations and counting of vegetative emerging cells The presence of one decyl or tetradecyl hydrocarbon chain caused about 10-fold enhancement of the phototoxic effects.

[Radiologically guided lumbar injections].

Lumbar injections of corticosteroids are an established part of sciatica nonsurgical treatment; that's to their anti-inflammatory properties. Fluoroscopically monitored injections are more likely to place medication at the exact target site and with higher concentration; then they maximize therapeutic results. Lumbar steroid injections are efficient at short and middle term, and they precipitate relief.

[Fibromatosis of the breast: clinical and pathology analysis of two cases].

Fibromatosis of the breast is an uncommon benign disease that mimics carcinoma clinically as well as radiographically. Its microscopic diagnosis among spindle cell tumors is fundamental, especially on frozen sections. We report two cases of mammary fibromatosis observed in young woman (26 and 31 years old).

The intestinal LABs.

The complete gastrointestinal (GI) tract of humans is colonised soon after birth by a myriad of microbial species with a characteristic distribution depending on the location. GI-tract ecology has been experiencing a revival due to the development of molecular techniques, especially those based on 16S RNA (zRNA) genes. A richer ecosystem than previously imagined of novel species is being discovered that is significantly influenced by our host genotype.

[Plasmocytic lymphoma/multiple myeloma. Association or transformation?].

Extramedullary plsmocytoma (plasmocytic lymphoma) is very rare, it seems to have an indolent course and the progression to a multiple myeloma is very rare (about 30 cases are reported in the literature). We report the case of 68-old-woman who presented in 1997 with an axillary left node. Physical examination, biologic and radiologic tests were normal.